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Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon vs Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve sit on opposite sides of a familiar divide: a blender-built, classically built bottling versus an old-guard, rye-forward classic.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon | Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Type / Style | Traditional Bourbon | High-Rye Bourbon |
| Mash Bill 1 | Not disclosed | 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley |
| Age | No age statement | 9 years |
| Proof | 100 proof (50% ABV) | 120 proof (60% ABV) +20 proof |
| Approx. Price 2 | ~$85 – $100 | ~$45 – $55 ~$43 less |
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve do not publish an official mash bill.
- US shelf prices as of 2026-10; they vary widely by market.
AG’s Rating and AG’s Notes
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Not rated yetNo notes yet.
Flavor Profile
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Axis by axis, biggest gap first
fruit 8/3 fruit: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 3 out of 10
heat 5/8 heat: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
sweetness 8/6 sweetness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 8 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 6 out of 10
spice 5/7 spice: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
oak 6/8 oak: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 6 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 8 out of 10
nuttiness 5/7 nuttiness: Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon 5 out of 10, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve 7 out of 10
Flavor Profile Differences
The fruit-versus-grain contrast drives this one.
- Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon: Finished in Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximenez sherry and Cognac casks. The casks layer dried fruit, orange and dark chocolate over the bourbon and leave a long, clove-spiced finish.
- Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve: The same nine-year Knob Creek juice bottled from a single barrel at 120 proof, and the extra strength suits it. Everything the standard bottling does, turned up — with the barrel-to-barrel variation that comes with the format.
Which One Should You Choose?
- Go with Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon if you want a sherry-and-Cognac-finished bourbon full of dried fruit and dark chocolate.
- Go with Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve if you want the Beam profile at serious proof for well under what most barrel-strength bourbons cost.
Best enjoyed neat (Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon); neat, old-fashioned (Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve).